8 Days a Week


July 6 - 13, 2005

HOT SPOT

Dog’s-eye view: Sam Fuller’s White Dog, about a shockingly racist pooch, screens at the Smith Rafael Film Center’s “Unleashed: Classic and Cult Canine Films.”
FOLLOW THE PAW tracks to the Smith Rafael Film Center this month for 'Unleashed: Classic and Cult Canine Films.' The minifest offers a tail-waggin' mix of kiddie and grownup flicks, including the not-for-youngsters kick-off film, The Plague Dogs – the 1982 animation about a pair of dogs who escape from an animal-testing lab and go on the run from the British government (filmmaker Martin Rosen will be on hand at the Wed/6 screening). Though the series omits my personal favorite Fido flick – that would be The Doberman Gang, and man, is it awesome – there's still plenty to enjoy, with Christopher Guest's mock-doc Best in Show (still hilarious every time you see it, and presented here as a free outdoor screening); the Sam Fuller rarity White Dog, which mixes Kristy McNichol, Paul Winfield, a score by Ennio Morricone, and one shockingly racist pooch; Carroll Ballard's back-to-nature elegy Never Cry Wolf (not to be confused with anything starring Kevin Costner); the cheerful Australian documentary The Wonderful World of Dogs, from offbeat director Mark Lewis (Cane Toads, The Natural History of the Chicken); silent-film giant Rin Tin Tin emoting his fur off in Clash of the Wolves (with live piano accompaniment); and Weimaraners aplenty in "Works by William Wegman." And since no puppy parade is complete without everyone's favorite problem-solving collie, the family classic Lassie Come Home closes out the series. Wed. and Sun. through July 31; check www.cafilm.org for complete schedule. The Plague Dogs screens Wed/6, 7 p.m., Smith Rafael Film Center, 1118 Fourth St., San Rafael. $5.50-$9. (415) 454-1222. (Cheryl Eddy)


July 6, Wednesday

photo by Sean Queenan All hopped up: San Francisco trio the Turn-Ups! turn out sweet, perfected pop tunes.
The last battle Unknowns litter the magic land of power pop, but some, like Matthew Sweet and Weezer, break out and hit the mainstream with a vengeance. Nevertheless, the genre is more often known for those acts, such as the Raspberries, Big Star, and Jason Falkner, who don't make it big but whose music forever lives on in the united hearts of grubby indie kids. With sweet melodies, vocal harmonies, and loud guitars, San Francisco trio the Turn-Ups! continue the tradition of perfect three-minute songs straight out of the '60s. Tomihira and Anaura also play. 9 p.m., Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St., SF. $7. (415) 621-4455. (Alex K. Fong)

Laugh out loud A small-town girl moves to the big city with nothing but a homecoming tiara, a bad perm, and a head full of dreams. Ten years later, she has managed to infiltrate the underbelly of the San Francisco art, music, and film scenes to become one of the most outspoken, hilarious, and delightfully sassy personalities in the Bay Area – and a kick-ass mom to boot. Beth Lisick reads tonight from her new collection of memoirs, Everybody into the Pool: True Tales. Lisick's refreshingly honest collection of essays chronicles her adventures through the often absurd, sometimes sketchy, but always entertaining alternative scenes she has traversed to arrive as a popular writer, comedian, musician, actor, and spoken word artist. But above all, the book establishes Lisick as the master storyteller she is, as she infuses each tale with her own unique perspective and biting sense of humor. 7 p.m., City Lights, 261 Columbus, SF. Free. (415) 362-8193. (Also Thurs/7, 7:30 p.m., Cody's Books, 2454 Telegraph, Berk. Free. 510-845-7852; Mon/11, 7 p.m., A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books, 601 Van Ness, SF. Free. 415-441-6670; Tues/12, 7 p.m., Mrs. Dalloway's Literary and Garden Arts, 2904 College, Berk. Free. 510-704-8222.) (Morae Kim)

July 7, Thursday

Girl time: Artist Carey Sookocheff’s Bulletheads and works by 11 other female artists appear in Receiver Gallery’s "Boys’ Club."
You go, girl! The art world may not be as male-dominated as it once was, but female artists still find it hard to get their work displayed. Twelve women from all over the country and Canada have banded together to form the Boys' Club and have taken their show on the road. Each artist uses her work, from full-color illustrations to ghostly line drawings, to define what the term "boys' club" means to her. Some confront stereotypes, while others use the opportunity to embrace their girliness with pink and frills. Overall the contributors see this exhibit as a celebration of art. Whatever the terminology means to you, support women in the arts. Through Aug. 3. Reception tonight, 7-10 p.m.; gallery hours Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Receiver Gallery, 1314 Eighth Ave., SF. Free. (415) 504-RCVR. (Jana Rogers)

A closer look The Middle East, for many of us, remains a far-off, hazy region, despite being a hotbed of international politics and major social strife. Maybe this is because the images we see are strategically veiled, skewed, and tweaked through the foggy lens of mainstream American media. But fear not, socially conscious, suspicious ones, for there is FiftyCrows. This local organization adamantly believes in the power of documentary photography to ignite social change by presenting alternative viewpoints through visual media. The new exhibit, 'From Where I Stand,' features award-winning Middle Eastern photographers whose works prove to be as diverse as their nationalities, perspectives, and experiences. From Diana Matar's photos focusing on Muslim women and social change in Egypt, to Ahikam Seri's documentation of the rapidly transitioning Bedouin society in Israel, the exhibit presents a thoughtful yet stark view of a region so ethnically, religiously, and politically diverse. Through July 28. Reception tonight, 6-8:30 p.m.; gallery hours Mon.-Fri., noon-5 p.m. (Thurs., noon-8 p.m.), World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter, SF. Free. (415) 293-4600. (Kim)

Power of two Nicole Storto and Paul Knowles make up Mill Valley-based group Mars Arizona, whose brand of folk and roots rock seasoned with a dash of the Beatles draws comparisons to notable duos such as Buddy and Julie Miller. Some tunes recall lonesome, dusty back roads, just as others crackle with the rock and roll simplicity of Tom Petty. Celebrate the release of their new album, All Over the Road (Big Barn Records), with a full band, including a fiddler and Dobro player. The evening also kicks off a still-expanding summer tour in support of the record. I See Hawks in L.A., Zachariah, and Heather Waters also play. 8:30 p.m., Cafe du Nord, 2170 Market, SF. $10. (415) 861-5016. (Fong)

July 8, Friday

Groove thang The beat of the drums, the thump of the bass, and the roll of the percussion mixes with funky guitar riffs and hypnotizing sax chops. The club is bathed in sexy red light, and you've got sweat beading up on your forehead because you just can't stop shaking it; the music makes you feel that good. You look at the stage in amazement at each badass musician, a master in his own right, but a force to be reckoned with when combined. Brian Jordan (Karl Denson's Tiny Universe), Cochemea Gastelum (20th Congress), Chuck Prada (20th Congress), Chris Stillwell (Greyboy Allstars), Zak Najor (Greyboy Allstars), and George Sanders (B-Side Players) perform as Motherlode, and they're throwing down the infectious vibe all night. Also Sat/9. 9:30 p.m., Boom Boom Room, 1601 Fillmore, SF. $15. (415) 673-8000. (Jana Rogers)

July 9, Saturday

Oh yes What would your life be like if your father was a '70s soul singer, your mother was a soul music writer, and you were surrounded by uncles and siblings who were legendary trumpeters and hip-hop artists? It would be a lot like the life of Oh No, who has struggled to stand out among a family of all-stars. And stand out he does. His works are a mix of organic beats and introspective lyrics, a perfect matchup for a tour coheadlined with the verbally intense Diverse, a Chicago artist whose liquidlike flow has been a cornerstone of the hip-hop world. This is a show of lyrical proportions. International Loose Cannons open. 9 p.m., Great American Music Hall, 859 O'Farrell, SF. $13. (415) 478-2277. (Rogers)

July 10, Sunday

Busy buzzing bee With a number of musical positions on her résumé, including one in the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, violinist Yehudit is a busy woman, especially since she also makes frequent forays from the classical realm into jazz. Tonight she plays in two different groups. Different Strokes is a jazz duo with cellist Beth Snellings. Their set exults in their new Edgetone Records release, Different Strokes ... Live. Then Yehudit switches to viola as she, Snellings, and the other members of the Strawberry Moon String Quartet premiere new compositions by Dave Mihaly and Bill Noertker. One of those pieces, called "Happy Geek," deals with the etymology of dilettante and places a musical theme into different aural contexts. 7:30 p.m., Musicians Union Hall, 116 Ninth St., SF. $8-$10, children under 12 free. (415) 905-4425. (Fong)

July 11, Monday

Story time Adventure on the high seas, evil villains and noble heroes, passion and betrayal – all the elements of a good story collide in 'Tales from 1001 Arabian Nights,' the newest installment of the benefit reading series for the Aurora Theatre. These classic stories may contain all the plot twists and intriguing characters that make for an entertaining read, but the dynamic raconteurs provide the dramatic flair that breathes life into these tales. The program features popular local actors Wanda McCaddon, Julia Brothers, Simon Vance, and Ian Scott McGregor. The actors' talent and dynamic stage presence invite the audience to experience an evening of magical storytelling at its best. You don't have to be in pajamas to enjoy a good bedtime story. The child in you will appreciate being taken on a fanciful voyage to ancient times in a faraway land full of exotic escapades – even for just an evening. 7:30 p.m., Aurora Theatre, 2081 Addison, Berk. $20 suggested donation. (510) 843-4822. (Kim)

July 12, Tuesday

No pants revolution If pop-punk rockers Le Tigre were French, they'd probably sound something like Les Sans Culottes. But the commando septet ("les sans culottes," which translates to "those without breeches," refers to radical French revolutionaries) aren't really French either, (most of the band members are American – zut alors!) but they pretty much had us fooled. The artsy Francophones met at the Rhode Island School of Design, where they bonded over Serge Gainsbourg and other chanteurs. Now living in Brooklyn, the band (whose members go by amusing names such as Celine Dijon, Jean Luc Retard, and Pascal Blasé) play 1960's French pop meets cheeky garage rock avec the quirky fun of both of those genres. My Life Is on the Line opens. 9 p.m., Cafe du Nord, 2170 Market, SF. $12. (415) 861-5016. (Elisa Jacobs)

July 13, Wednesday

Well-mixed: Luke Fair brings the party at Anú Bar’s SatelliteSF.
Fair warning From using pirated software to produce a bootleg remix of U2's "Silver and Gold" to mixing OS_0.3, the latest installment of Bedrock Records' Original Series, and from being a busboy at a nightclub to headlining gigs at the Womb in Tokyo, Luke Fair has come a long way, baby. The Toronto native's new mix for John Digweed's Bedrock label features a DJ style that roams from progressive house tracks like his remix of T and F vs. Moltosugo's "La Serenissima" to electro-tinged joints by Sebastien Leger. Fair joins resident Scott Carelli at his SatelliteSF party. 10 p.m., Anú Bar, 43 Sixth St., SF. $5. (415) 543-3505. (Peter Nicholson)

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